Reverse gear mechanism



Dec. 20, 1932. J. KINDERVATER REVERSE GEAR MECHANISM Filed Dec. 29. 1950 INVENTOR RNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED A STATES JULIUs KINDERVATER, or GREAT NECK, NEW roma REVERSE GEAR MEQHANISM Application led ,1)ecember29,1930.V Serial No; 505,325.

This invention relates to powder devices for operating reverse gear mechanisms of locomotives.

The object of the invention is to provide '5 such a device, which is more efficient in operation than those heretofore known and which embodies a compact and sturdy structure, that is economical to manufacture and maintain. Other objects of the invention which 1 constitute improvements .over the prior art will hereinafter be apparent.

In present locomotive practice regarding power operated reverse gears, proper functioning `is .dependent upon the control valve 5 and Vany slight loss of motion in the numerous pin connections embodied in the devices generally used, materially affects the cut-off. lVhen in the operation of a locomotive, a linein line distribution valve position is neces,-

29 sary, any slight imperfection, automatically afecting the proper registration of the dist-ribution valve, results lin what is .commonly known 4as creeping or shimmying. It has :been found kthat in order to avoid such re- 2-5 sultsand to properly maintain the valve gear `at any .desired position of cut-oil", the reversing mechan'sm'must be positive and not subject to variations as aforementioned.

Another problem` is presented, in such 30 mechanisms, by shocks 4which result from the sudden loads, that are frequently imposed .upon the 4valve gear. The necessity of dampening these shocks or eliminatingVv them to `,avoid Vtheir affecting the operationiof the 3.5 reverse gear lmechanism .is well 'recognized in the art, Y a

'This invention achieves the aforementioned positiveaction by the employment of a screw gearin the manner hereinafter described Iand 40 at the same time, the mechanism of the infvention is designed to afford a cushioning effect yto absorb the shocks transmitted `by the `distribution valve motion. l

The improvement claimed is hereinafter 45 fully V*set forth.

Ifnfthe accompanying drawing: Figure l fisafside-view ,of apart of a locomotive show- .in-gthe reversing vgear of the invention applied '.theretog Fi'gfQ is an enlarged view of 150 the rear portion o fF ig. 1.; Fig., 3 is alongitudinal section of the reverse gear; Fi 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 3 on the line I T-IY thereof; and Fig. 5 is an end view .of the nut shown in Fig. 3l

yJin the practice of theV invention referring y 3, connected thereto, the reverse shaft being connected to valve motion links, not show-n. A reverse gear, indicated generally by the numeral 4 is suitably attached by meansof studs or bolts to the side of the locomotive. $55 A reversible motor 5, of the Dake rotary engine type 01 any .other Suitable type, issecured to the boiler back head within the cafb. Such an .engine is described and illustrated in detail in Catalogue Number 28 of the Dake 70 Engine Company of-Grrand Haven, Michigan. The motor is operated either by air or steam, supplied the-reto through vthe inlet pipe 6, and exhausted therefrom through the pipe 7, which extends vdown theback head of the 715 boiler into the locomotive ash pan (not shown). The. motor is controlled by means of a valve (not shown) of any suitable type, which valve is operated by Ia-throttle `lever 8 operably connected therewithin the usual lf5.0 manner. v n

, Connected to the motor `5 isa lscrew shaft 9 adapted to bereversibly rotated by said motor. A pair of`arm members `10, and v-l2 are connected to the motor casing vand anni;A 11 $5 is Sldablyattached ,t9 the upper ,ar-m V111cm- Yber which serves las aguide therefor, `thenut being adapted to 'move longitudinally therealong. VThenut is provided witha bore extending therethrough and formed lwith .a 90

screw thread which meshes with the thread 4on `the screw shaft 9,-which passesfthrough .Said bore.- Them-lt is held from rotation by the upper armlO, so that it willtravel longitudinally along the shaft-9 when the latter 29.5

,isrotatedt The lower arm member 12 is vernier graduated and a pointer 18 isformjed on the lower end of the nut so as to indicate the Vrafaelitas@ of cutfaf- A IOdl is pvotally vC911.11m@ 51 y,at/ 1.5 t0, the end v0f the vthrottle 0 lever 8 and is provided with spaced collars 16 and 17. Between said collars the rod 14 passes through an opening in an upper eX- tension of the nut 11, and the said collars 16 and 17 constitute stops in the travel of the nut, in its extreme forward and backward positions, adapting the same to return the throttle lever and the valve connected thereto, to neutral position to stop the operation of said motor.

The forward end of the shaft 9 is connected by a universal joint 18 of the Spicer type, to a shaft 19 and the forward end of the shaft is connected by -a similar universal joint 20, to a reverse screw shaft 21. Such a universal joint isrdescribed and illustratedin detail in Bulletin 44-4 dated August, 1929, of the Spicer Manufacturing Corporation of Toledo, Ohio. The reach rod 22 is pivotally connected at its forward end 23 to the upper end of the reverse shaft arm 3 and is similarly connected at itsrear end to a plunger 24. The pivotal connections of the reach rod to the'reverse shaft arm and the plunger prevent the rotation of the reach rod and plunger. The plunger 24 and the reverse screw shaft 21 are housed within a cylindrical casing 25. The forward end of the casing is formed with an opening 26 through which the plunger passes and is provided with a circularflange 27 encircling the plunger to aiforda pocket 28 into which packing 29 is disposed. A gland 30 is disposed about the plunger and extends into the pocket to effect a compression of the packing and provide a tight fit, the gland being suitably fastened to the flange 27 by studs (not shown).

The plunger'24'is formed with a hollow interior indicated at 31 and is enlarged at its rear end to forni a cylindrical inner casing 32 adapted to 'reciprocate within the outer casing 25, but prevented from rotating by means vof the pivotal connections of the plunger and reach rod, as aforedescribed. Substantially the entire length of theA shaft 21 within the casing 25 is provided with screw threads. Theshaft passes centrally through the casing 32 and its forward portion extends into the hollow portion 31 of the plunger 24. vThe rear end of the casing 25 is formed with a circumferential flange 33 `to which a cover member 34`is bolted by means of a corresponding flange, 35 formed thereon. An interior'circumferential depression 36 is formed in the rear end of the cylindrical wall of the casing 25, in which depression a thrust plate 37 is `fitted. At the inner edge of the cover inember 34 a circumferential depression 33 is formed, which together withv the depression formed in the thrust plate 37 forms a pocket holding in position therein, a thrust roller bearing 39, of usual design. The central'iportion of the thrust plate 37 is provided with an opening and the shaft 21'p`asses through said opening and through the bearing 39. A collar 40 is integrally formed on the shaft 21 within the said opening, adjacent the bearing 39 and a lock nut 41 is provided on the shaft at the opposite side of the bearing thus securing the said shaft thereto. The extreme rear end of the shaft passes through an opening 42-in the cover member 34 and is connected as aforesaid tothe shaft 19 by the universal joint 20. The inner periphery of the opening 42 is provided with a groove 43 in whichffelt packing 44 is disposed to provide a tight connection.

lVithin the inner casing 32, a split nut 45 istted, the nut being of cylindrical forni and split longitudinally into two half sections 45@ and 456. (see Fig. 5). .The nut is provided with a bore formed with a screw thread which meshes with the thread of the screw shaft 21. The two sections 45a and 45t are held in place by screws 46 passing through one section andthreaded in the other section. Laminated shims 54 are disposed bctween the sections'and are readily removable for taking up wear of the screw threads of the nut. The central port-ion of the nut is enlarged so that its diameter is slightly less than the interior diameter of the inner casing 32. rlhe casing 32 is formed with a longitudinal groove 55 into which al dowel 47 eX- tends and along which the same is adapted to slide, the dowel being fixed in the section 456 of the nut and adapted thereby to prevent the rotation of the nut. In the spaces within the chamber 32 at the sides of the enlarged portion 'of the nut, helical springs 48 and 49 are disposed. The inner end of the spring 48, bears against the rear face of the enlarged portion of the knut and the outer end of the spring bears against a head 50 which is screwed into the rear end of the chamber 32.

vThe inner end of the spring 49 bears against the other face of the enlarged portion of the nut and the outer end of spring 49 bears 'against the forwardv head 51 of the chamber 32. The head 50 is provided with an inner circular depression 52 into which the rear end ofthe nut 45 extends and the head 51 of the chamber 32 is likewise provided with yan inner circular depression 53 into which the forward end of thenut extends. The length of the nut is of a less dimension than the distance between the faces of the opposing depressions 52-53 so as to leave clearance spaces between the ends of the nut and the faces of the depressionsLsaid faces serving Vas stops to limit thelongitudinal movement of the nut'in relation to the chamber 32 in opposite directions. f It will be apparent, therefore, that while the nut and its engaging shaft 21 is capable of such longitudinal movement relative to the plunger in two directions that the movement will be cushioned Vby one or the 4other of the 'springs 43 and 49.

The entire thrust of the valve mot-ion is there by absorbed in the casingandno shocks will be transmitted, beyond the nut 45; these spring cushions taking the place of air cushions heretofore provided for reverse gears.

In the operation of the invention all of the moving parts within the casing 25 will be run in a bath of oil. The cut-off adjustment and reversing is effected by operating the valve lever S which sets the motor 5 in motion in the desired direction, causing the rotation of the shaft 9, which movement is transmitted through the universal joint 18, the shaft 19 and the universal joint 2O to the shaft 21, the rotation of the shaft 21 effecting longitudinal movement of the nut 45, and the plunger Q4 and through the succeeding connections actuating the distribution valve. By means of the vernier 12 the cut-olf may be set to hair line adjustment, the collars 16 and 17 operating to stop the motion a-nd the operation of the gear at the extreme rear and forward positions only. Of especial advantage is the location of the motor, within the cab`0f the locomotive, where the same is protected from the elements and is readily accessible for lubrication or repair. It is pointed out, however, that the entire mechanism is practically fool proof and while desirably sensitive, the same is so constructed as to minimize any tendency towards wearing or breakage and the resultant necessity for repair or adjustment.

lVhile there has, hereinbefore, been described and illustrated one preferred form of construction of the invention, it will be obvious that many and various changes in p rocedure, form, arrangement, and construction of parts, may be resorted to, and that this invention, therefore, is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed but includes all and any such changes and modificationsas come within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

rlhe invention claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. in a reverse gear mechanism, the combination of a fixed Casing; a reciprocable noniotatable power rod having a hollow end portion extending into vsaid casing at one end thereof and engaging the walls of the casing to permit sliding reciprocable movement, said hollow portion being provided intericrly with spaced spring seats; a nut disposed within said hollow portion; means preventing said nut from rotating while permitting limited longitudinal movement relative to said rod; means on said nut providing spring seats spaced respectively from and opposite to the first mentioned spring seats; helical springs disposed within said spaces having their respective ends abutting oppositely disposed seats to provide a resilient driving connection between said nut and said rod and adapted to resiliently resist end thrusts from said rod; a rotatable shaft extending within at one end thereof provided with a stufling box; a reciprocable non-rotatable power rod having a hollow end extending into said casing through said stuliing box, said stuffing box providing a fluid-tight' connection loe-l tween said rod and casing, and said hollow portion engaging the walls of the casing to permit sliding reciprocable movement and being provided interiorly with spaced spring seats; a nut disposed within said hollow portion; means preventing said nut from rotating while permitting limited. longitudinal movement relative to said rod; means on said nut providing spring seats spaced respectively from and opposite to the first mentioned spring seats; helical springs disposed within said spaces having their respective ends abutting oppositely disposed seats to provide a resilient driving connection between said nut and said rod and adapted to resiliently resist end thrusts from said rod; a rotatable shaft extending within said casing through the opposite end thereof and having a Vthreaded portion engaging the threads of said nut; a thrust bearing for said shaft engaging said casing and permitting rotation of said shaft but preventing longitudinal movement thereof, whereby by the rotation of said shaft said rod will be moved longitudinally; means enclosing saidopposite end of the casing provided with an opening through which said shaft extends; packing means engaging said closing means and said shaft to provide a fluid-tight connection therebetween, whereby the interior of said casing presents a fluid-tight lubricant chammeans for rotating said shaft;

J ULIUS KINDERVATER.

ber for the movable parts therein; and power said casing through Vthe opposite end thereof 

